male	male female European distribution male

Identification

The male Pochard looks as if he has a black body but most of this is wrapped up in a copious pale grey bandage. His rich red head is also distinctive. Female Pochard can be harder to identify, but there is usually at least a hint of grey brown on their mantle and flanks and their faces usually show pale blotches, especially in front of the eye. In flight, both sexes show uniquely grey-brown wings, paler across the flight feathers.

Habitat

Breeds on large reed-fringed lakes. Winters on lakes, reservoirs and in sheltered bays.

Migration

Numbers in western Europe are swollen in winter by visiting birds from further north and east.

This information is taken from the BirdFile on the appropriate BirdGuides DVD-ROM. As well as video and sounds, our CD- and DVD-ROMs contain additional text on Voice, Sexing, Ageing, Food, Nests and Eggs and more.

For the purposes of our bird news services, Pochard is classed as Common: common species, including species that are certain or probable escapees from captivity when occurring in the British Isles. (Note that rarity levels are currently applied nationally and may not reflect local variations in abundance.)

Killingworth, Northumbs 05/07/2010	undisc. site, Norfolk 06/06/2010	Far Ings NR, Lincs 20/06/2010	Old Hall Marshes, Essex 23/05/2010	Old Hall Marshes, Essex 23/05/2010
Cley, Norfolk 18/05/2010	Far Ings NR, Lincs 15/05/2010	Killingworth, Northumbs 14/05/2010	Silverdale, Lancs 09/05/2010	Tophill Low, E Yorks 08/05/2010

 View all pictures of Pochard

Pochard breeds in the following countries (Bird News Extra subscribers will see population statistics and information on trends for each country):

Albania
Armenia
Austria
Belarus
Belgium
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Britain
Bulgaria
Croatia
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Georgia
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Ireland
Italy
Latvia
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macedonia
Moldova
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Russia
Serbia and Montenegro
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
Ukraine

http://blx1.bto.org/birdfacts/results/bob1980.htm   BTO BirdFacts: Pochard	Edit this link
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